Dhaba Style Dal

In India highways are dotted with local restaurants popularly known as dhabas (singular: dhaba). They sometime serve local cuisine, but mostly Punjabi style cuisine - since most Indian truck drivers are of Punjabi descent. The word dhaba has come to represent any restaurant that serves Punjabi food, especially the heavily-spiced and fried Punjabi fare preferred by many truck drivers. These cuisine are usually simple, very rustic and freshly prepared.

This dish combines three types of dals and brings out the authentic dhaba taste.



Ingredients:

1/2 Cup whole Urad Dal with skin
1/4 Cup Red Kidney Beans
1/4 Cup Chana Dal/Split Bengal Gram
1 big Onion chopped
1 big Tomato chopped
8 cloves Garlic chopped
3 Green Chillies sliced
1 Tbsp Coriander Powder
1 Tsp Jeera Powder
1/2 Tsp Chilli Powder
1/4 Tsp Turmeric Powder
1/2 Tsp Garam Masala Powder
1/4 Cup chopped Coriander Leaves
1 1/2 Tbsp Kasuri Methi/dried Fenugreek leaves
1 1/2 tbsp Butter
1 Tbsp Oil
Salt to taste

Preparation:

• Soak urad dal, kidney beans & chana dal over night.
• Pressure cook dal with enough water and salt.
• Heat oil in a pan, add chopped garlic and fry briefly.
• Add chopped onion, little salt and green chillies.
• Saute till onion turns golden brown.
• Add chopped tomatoes and cook till soft and mash well.
• Add turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and jeera powder.
• Add 1/2 cup water and mix well.
• Cover and cook in low flame till oil floats on top.
• Add cooked dal, butter, chopped coriander leaves and salt.
• Cook till oil floats on surface of the dal.
• Crush kasuri methi in your palm and add it to the dish.
• Serve hot with chapathi.

No. of Servings: 6

For more such recipes, visit my site at www.chillimix.com

Simple Tomato chutney

A great accompaniment for dosas and idlis.


Ingredients:

1 big tomato
1 medium onion
2 green chillies
1 Tsp coriander powder
1 tbsp coriander leaves
1 tsp urad dal
little turmeric powder
salt to taste

Preparation:

• Heat 2 tsp of oil in a pan, add urad dal and fry till pink.
• Add chopped onion and green chillies.Saute till onions are transparent.
• Add chopped tomatoes ,little salt and coriander leaves.
• Saute till tomatoes are soft.
• Add coriander powder and turmeric powder.
• Fry for 2 minutes.
• Cool and grind by adding very little water.

No. of Servings: 3 to 4.

For more such recipes, visit my site at www.chillimix.com

Chicken Kolumbu

This is a simple south Indian dish that goes very well with idli & chapathi.

Ingredients:

1 Lb Chicken pieces
1 medium Red Onion chopped
1 medium Tomato chopped
1 sprig Curry Leaves
2 Tsp Ginger-Garlic paste
1/4 Tsp Turmeric Powder
1/2 Tsp Garam Masala Powder
1/2 Tsp Chilli Powder
1Tbsp Coriander Powder
1 Cup Coconut Milk
1 Tbsp Oil
Salt to taste


Preparation:

• Clean the chicken pieces & mix it with 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste & leave it aside.
• Heat oil in a pan & add chopped onion along with remaining 1tsp ginger-garlic paste & curry leaves.
• Fry till light brown.
• To this add chopped tomatoes & little salt & cook till the tomatoes are soft.
• Add chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder & garam masala powder.
• Cook till oil floats on top.
• Now add chicken pieces & salt.Cook for few minutes.
• Add coconut milk & 1/2 cup water & cook till oil floats on top.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.

No. of Servings: 4

For more such recipes, visit my site at www.chillimix.com

Adai

A simple breakfast that is easier to prepare than dosa.

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Raw Rice
1/4 Cup Parboiled Rice
1/4 Cup Thuvar Dhal
1/4 Cup yellow Moong Dhal
1/4 Cup Channa Dhal
2 Red Chillies
1 Tbsp chopped Coconut pieces
1/2 Onion chopped
Few Curry leaves
1 Tbsp chopped Coriander leaves
Salt to taste

Preparation:

• Soak rice, dhal & red chillies for 3 hours.
• Grind to a coarse paste.
• To this add onion, coconut, curry leaves, coriander leaves and salt.
• Heat tava in medium flame and spread a ladle full of batter in circular motion.
• Add 1 tsp of oil around the adai.
• Turn over and cook till done.
• Serve hot with coconut chutney.

For more such recipes, visit my site at www.chillimix.com

Channa Dal Pakora

Crunchy pakoras that goes well with rice or can be eaten as appetizer.


Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Chana Dal
1/4 Tsp Sombu/Fennel Seeds
2 Green Chillies chopped
1/2 Cup chopped Mint Leaves
1/4 Cup chopped Coriander Leaves
1/4 Cup chopped Curry Leaves
1 Onion sliced
Salt to taste
Oil to deep fry

Preparation:

• Soak chana dal for 6 hours and drain water completely.
• Grind chana dal along with fennel seeds coarsely.
• Transfer this into a bowl and add sliced onion, chopped green chillies, coriander leaves, mint leaves, curry leaves and salt.
• Mix everything.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Deep fry the mix in small clusters till golden brown.

For more such recipes, visit my site at www.chillimix.com